Interlock device



April 14, 1925.

C. C. FARMER INTERLOCK DEVI CE Filed sept. 1'3,

INVENTOR GLYDE C. FARMER ATTORN Patented pr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLYDE CX FARMER, 0F PITTSBURGH. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE-WESTING-HOULSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, 0F WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA', A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

INTERLOCK DEVICE.

Application led September 13, 1922. Serial No. 587,903.

To all whom t may concer-n:

.Be it known that I, GLYDE C. FARMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and Stat-e otPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in InterlockDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an intcrlockdevice adapted to be employed inconnection with a switch for controlling electric train line circuitsand cut-out cocks for controlling communication through fluid pressuretrain pipes.

Vhere electric train line circuits are employed on cars'it is sometimesnecessary to provide a manually operated switch on the cars Jfor openingand closing the circuits independently of the electric train linecouplers between the cars as, for example, in the case of cars equippedfor multiple unit control and where the electric train line couplers areof the type in which the circuits are opened by the separation of thecars. In such case, when power is applied-to one car power will also beapplied to the other cars of the train, so that cars cannot be separatedwhen desired, since all cars may be moved simultaneously when power isapplied on one car.- i

The trainman may neglect to operate the switch, 'but if he fails toclose the cut-out cock in the train brake pipe the brakes willv beapplied, so that the trainman may be relied onto close thecock.

One object of my invention is to provide an interlock device such thatthe cut-out cocks cannot be moved to the closed position unless thetrain line switch has beenl moved to its open position, so that theoperator must openthe switch before he can close the cut-out cock.

Another object of my invention is to provide an interlock device suchthat the switch cannot be moved to its closed position unless thecut-out cock is moved to its open position.

Another object of my invention yis to provide an interlock device of theabove. character which will permit the opening and closing of the switchwhile the cut-out cock remains in its open position.

In the accompanying drawing; Fig. lis a diagrammatic viewof an interlockdevice applied to a switch and cut-outcock construction and embodying myinvention and showing the switch in its open position and the cut-outcocks in the closed position, a p ortion being shown in section taken onthe line 1 1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 a view of thc .construction shown in Fig.1 with the switch in its closed position and the cut-out cocks in theopen position; and Fig. 3 a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, A represents the car body to which are attached atvopposite sides bracket members 1 and 2: secured to the underside of thecar body is a manually operated switch device 3 containing the usualrotatable switch drum 21 having contacts for engagement with Contactlingers 5 which. are connected to corresponding'train line circuits. Foroperating the drum 4 a lever 6 is secured to the drum and one end of'the lever is pivotally` connected to operating rods 7 and 8 which extendthrough the corresponding bracket members 1 and 2, the outer ends of therods 7 and 8 being bent to form operating handles as shown.

The other end of the lever 6 is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 9whieh is pivotally mounted on a sleeve 10. .Slidably mounted in thesleeve 10 is a rod 11 for operating the cut-out cocks, such as the brakepipe cut-out cock 12 and the signal pipe cock' 18, the respective cocklevers 14 and 15 being provided with slots at their outer ends withinwhich are pins 16 and 17, secured to the rod 11. Opposite ends of therod 11 are pivotally connected to operating rods 18 and 19 which extendthrough openings in the bracket members 1 and 2.

The arm 9 carries a half round lug 20, the flat face of which is adaptedto engage the' upper face of the rod 11 in the position shown in Fig. 1in which the cut-out cocks are closed, said lug being adapted to engagein a notch 21 out in the rod 11 when the rod is in the position shown inFig. 2, in which the cut-out cocks are open.

In operation, in the position shown in Fig. l, the rod 11 is in theposition in which the cut-out cocks 12 and 13 are held closed and theswitch 3 is in its open position. It will be evident that the rods 7 and8 cannot be operated to rotate the switch drum 4 by reason of the lug 20engaging the upper face of the bar 11 so that the larml 9 cannot berocked and therefore said arm acts as a lock to prevent the movement ofthe bar 6 by the operating .rods 7 and 8. Before the and a cutout cockfor controlling communiswitch can ibe moved to its closed position,cation through a fluid ressure train pipe, the bar 11 must be shifted toits position, of an interlock device including an interas sho-wn in Fig. 2, in which the cut-out locking element movable with said switchcocks are opened. In this position, one of device and an interlockingelement movable the levers 7 or 8 may be shifted so as to rock with saidcut-out cock for preventing movethe lever 6 and rotate the drum 4 to itsment of the cut-out cock in one position of closed position, since thearm 9 is now free the switch device. to move by reason of the lugengaging 3. The combination with a switch device in the notch 21 of thebar 11. for controlling electric train line circuits and In the positionof the parts .as shown in a cutout cock for controlling communicationFig. 2, the cut-out cocks cannot be shifted through a Huid pressuretrain pipe, of an to the closed position by movement oi' the\ interlockdevice including an interlocking rod l1, since the movement of the rod11 is element movable with said switch device prevented by engagement ofthe lug 20 in and an interlocking element movable with the notch 2l. Inorder to be able to shift said cutout cock and adapted in one posithecutout cocks to the closed position, it tion to prevent movement ,of theswitch is then necessary to rst operate the switch device and in anotherposition to prevent drum by means of one of the rods 7 and 8 so movementof the cutout cock.

that the drum is turned to its open position. e. rllhe combination witha switch device ln this position, the lug 20 is not in engageforcontrolling electric train line circuits ment with the notch 2l andconsequently the and a cut-out cock for controlling communibar 11 may beoperated to shift the cut-out cation througha fluid pressure train pipe,cocks to the closed position. Aoit an interlock device. including twolock- It will be noted, however, that in the posiing members, onemovable with the switch 'tion shown in F ig. 2, the switch drum maydevice and the otherwith the cutout cock be turned to its open positionwithout operfor preventing movement of the switch deating the cut-outcocks, so that electric vice in the closed position of the cutout powermay be cut oil while cars are coupled cock. together to permitinspection and repairs, 5. The combination witha switch device withoutcausing an application of the brakes for controlling electric train linecircuits through the closing of the brake pipe cutand a cutout cock forcontrolling communiout cocks. cation through a fluid pressure trainpipe,

A locking device may be provided for' of an interlock device includingtwo'locking locking the switch operating mechanism in members, onemovable with the switch def either of its positions of adjustment suchas vice and the other with the cut-out cock for a rod 22 extendingthrough the members 1 preventing 'movement 4of the cut-out cock in and 2andhaving the ends bent as shown the closed position of the switchdevice. to form operating handles.v rlhe rod 22 is 6. l he combinationwith a switch device provided with a latch 23 adapted to engage forcontrolling electric train line circuits notches 24 in the rod 7 ineither the open or and a cutout cock for controlling communithe closedposition of the rod. By turning cation through a fluid pressure trainpipe, the rod 22, the latch 23 may be disengaged of an interlock deviceincluding two locking from the notch 24 so that the rod 7 may bemembers, one movable with the switch deshifted, as desired.

A similar locking device may be provided preventing movement of theswitch device for the cutout cock operating mechanism from its openposition with the cut-out cock and comprising a rod 25 carryin a latchin its closed position.

vice and the other with the cut-out cock for 26 adapted to engagenotches 2 in the rod 18.

Having now described my invention, what li claim as new and desire tosecure by lietters Patent, is: v l

l. The combination with a switch device 7. The combination with a switchdevice for controlling electric train line circuits and a cut-out cockfor controlling communication through a fluid pressuretrain pipe, of aninterlock device including two locking members, one movable with theswitch deor controlling electric train line circuits vice and the otherwith the cut-out cock for and a cut-out cock for controllingcommunipreventing movement of the cut-out cock cation through a fluidpressure train pipe, from its open position with the switch deoi aninterlock device including van inter-v vice in its closed position.locking element movable with said switch 8. 'llhe combination with aswitch device device and an interlocking element movable for controllingelectric train line circuits with said cut-out cock for preventingmoveand a cut-out cock for controlling communiment of the switch devicein one position of cation through a fluid pressure train pipe, thecut-out cock. of an interlock device including two locking 2. rlhecombination with a switch device members, one movable with the switchdefor controlling electric train line circuits vice and the other withthe cut-out cock for mesmo reventing movement of the switchdevice romits open position with the cut-out cock in its closed position and forpreventing movement of the cut-out cock from its open position with theswitch device in its closed position.

9. The combination with a switch device for controlling electric trainline circuits and a cut-out cock for controlling communication through afluid pressure train pipe, of manually operated means for operating saidswitch device, separate manually operated means for operating saidcut-out cock, and an interlock device for preventing movement of oneoperating means when the other operating means is in a predeterminedposition.

l0. rlhe combination with a switch device for controlling electric trainline circuits and a cut-out cock for` controlling communication througha fluid pressure train pipe, of manually operated means for operatingsaid switch device, separate manually operated means for operatin saidcut-out cock, and au interlock device or locking the cutout cockoperating means against movement in the switch closing position of theswitch operating means and the cut-out cock open position oithe cut-outcock operatin means..

11. The combination with a switc device for controlling electric trainline circuits and a cut-out cock for controlling communication through afluid pressure train pipe, of manually operated means for operating saidswitch device, separate manually operated means for operating saidcut-out cock, and an interlock device adapted to be locked againstmovement by the cut-out cock-operating means in its cock closed positionfor preventing movement of the switch operating means from its openposition.

12. The combination with a switch device for controlling electric trainline circuits, manually operated means for operating said switch device,a cut-out cock for controlling communication through a Huid pressuretrain pipe, and manually operated means for operating said cut-out cock,of an interlock device comprising a pivoted arm operatively connected tosaid switch operating means, a locking member carried by said arm andadapted to engage said cut-out cock operating means in one position toprevent movement of the locking member and to engage said cock operatingmeans in another position so as to prevent movement of the cockoperating means.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y CLYDE C. FARMER..

